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I received the following question from a follower:

“If my dog doesn't eat fish is there anything besides salmon oil I need to feed or give supplement wise?”

This is an excellent question because I'm noticing that a lot of people are raising dogs that aren't a fan of fish – raw or otherwise. Because I didn't have a source for raw fish for so long, I have a list of alternatives that I still add to my dogs' raw diet today to make sure they get the Omega-3 fatty acids they need for skin and coat health, joint health, and more.

Benefits of Fish for Raw Fed Dogs

But before I share my alternatives, I wanted to remind you of why our dogs need fish in their raw food diet.

The meat that we feed our dogs brings various levels of Omega-6 fatty acids to the table which promote inflammation. That inflammation is what contributes to joint issues, allergies, digestive issues, and more. Offsetting Omega-6 fatty acids with the Omega-3 fatty acids from raw fish brings our dogs' systems back into balance.

Omega-3 fatty acids act as a natural anti-inflammatory and support joint health, skin and coat health, brain development in puppies, cognitive functions in senior dogs, gut health, and immune system health.

If we're lucky, our dogs will lick their dishes clean when raw fish is added; but not everyone's dog is a fan.

Alternatives to Fish for Raw Fed Dogs

1 – Scout and Zoe's Carp Eyes

Scout and Zoe's (yep, that's the name of my dogs too) now offers carp; carp burgers, carp skin, carp eyes, and more. Carp has more Omega 3 fatty acids, feeding carp is turning our dogs into a natural predator for this invasive species, and it's another healthy alternative for dogs that aren't fans of fish.

Today, I'm recommending that you check out the carp eyes for your dog. Yes, the idea of feeding eyes is gross when you think about it too long, but my dogs go crazy for them and it's a super healthy treat.

• CLICK HERE to order from Scout and Zoe's.

2 – Bonnie and Clyde Fish Oil

You might be surprised to see me add fish oil when someone says that their dog doesn't like fish but Bonnie & Clyde is different from other fish oils.  It doesn't have a strong fish smell or taste and may be able to be mixed into your dog's food without them realizing that you pulled a fast one.

What I love about BNC is that the fish oil is free of toxins, it's low in calories, and it includes a natural source of Vitamin E (from sunflowers).

• CLICK HERE to order Bonnie & Clyde Fish Oil

3 – Canned Oysters

One of my friends recently called me out on Facebook for not warning her about how canned oysters smell.  I laughed because they don't have a smell to me – but I'm not bothered by green tripe either.  If your dog doesn't like fish, maybe your dog wouldn't mind canned oysters.  I buy Pacific Pearl canned oysters (they're boiled in water first) from Walmart; I literally clear the shelf every few months, because this has become a must-have in my dogs' diet.

Oysters offer Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and manganese.  Many raw diets are low or lacking in zinc and manganese, so this is a fantastic addition.  Buy a can and see if your dog shows an interest and if he or she isn't feeling the oysters, I have an idea – keep reading.  Don't get the smoked oysters – I always look for canned in water with the lowest sodium content.  I rinse them well before feeding them to my dogs.

• CLICK HERE to order canned oysters

4 – Green Lipped Mussel Powder

Green lipped mussel powder is great for dogs with arthritis, and it also supports skin and coat health – why? – because it has a high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids.  GLM powder does smell like mussels, it's very strong if you stick your nose in the container (not recommended). The smell doesn't bother me or my dogs.  The dosage of GLM powder is three teaspoons per every 15 pounds of body weight.

I don't currently add GLM powder to my dogs' diet, but this is primarily because I have so many other alternatives. We're good.

• CLICK HERE to order green lipped mussel powder

5 – Sneak it into a Veggie Mix for Dogs

And if none of those options work and you feed your dogs vegetables, then creating a vegetable mix that contains pureed oysters and green lipped mussel powder may work for your dog.  Prior to fermenting vegetables for my dogs, I would occasionally mix up a batch of pureed vegetables for the dogs using the following recipe, and my dogs LOVE IT!

And while we're talking about vegetables, there are plant-based sources of Omega 3 fatty acids that may be a good fit for your dog if one of the above doesn't work out. My favorite addition to my dogs' diet is chia seeds because they have so many amazing benefits besides the Omega 3 fatty acids.

• Chia seeds provide additional nutrients for our dogs.
• Chia seeds are a great source of fiber, calcium, and protein.
• Chia seeds may support a healthier weight and weight loss.
• Chia seeds are high in antioxidants.
• Chia seeds promote improved heart health, bone health, while reducing inflammation.

Not bad for a teeny little seeds.

I purchase organic chia seeds from the natural section of my local grocery store. CLICK HERE to learn how I prepare them for my dogs.

Dogs Do Change Their Mind

When switched from feeding primarily premade raw to DIY raw feeding, I happily ordered 50 pounds of fresh caught/flash frozen sardines for my dogs. When they arrived, I was excited to see the dogs' reactions. They were underwhelmed, to say the least, and I used YouTube videos to learn how to gut and fillet sardines. I then cooked a few for the dogs and gave the rest to other local raw feeders.

A year later, I tried again and Rodrigo showed more interest in the sardines and took one out to the yard and ate it, then came back for more. The other dogs did the same. I had ground up 25 pounds of sardines; I wish I knew that the dogs liked them whole because I could have saved hours grinding sardines. The smell and the mess were impressive.

I share this story because if your dog doesn't like fish today, keep trying because your dog may reconsider in the future.